Sorry for this rant but my sister and I are just so shocked and upset about the way we were treated by the manager of a pub in East Dulwich this morning! We got caught short when my 3 month old did a poop whilst in his pram and we were about tp get on the train. The library was closed but there was a pub next door that was very empty. I waited outside whilst my sister popped in and asked a lady working in the pub if she would mind if we nipped in and used their baby change - they had a baby change room and high chairs, etc. The lady was absolutely lovely and said it was not a problem at all. In fact there were only 2 people in the whole pub anyway (at lunchtime - and they do food - not a good sign in retrospect!). So we quietly went in, changed the little man and headed out. We stopped at the bar to thank the elderly gentleman who was there doing the books - he looked like he must be the landlord. He proceeded to launch into a TIRADE asking us "how could we have the audacity to walk in and use the baby change and not buy anything" - we explained that we had asked permission and would never have come in had the lady not wanted us to use the baby change - my sister made it quite clear we wouldn't be buying anything, we were simply asking a small favour as we were really caught in a pickle. The old man proceeded to rant about how "it wasn't his baby" and "they assumed we would be buying things". I understand it must be irritating for pub owners, etc, to have people march in and use their facilities but I would never consider doing it without asking. I don't think asking to change a baby in an emergency is really such a big deal and would have thought a landlord would have the goodwill to allow such a thing in good grace. No wonder his pub was empty.
This was unfortunate as well as embarrassing as we are both looking for properties in the area so could have been potential regular customers.